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Divided House abandons vote on border bill

BORDER BATTLE:
Faith leaders and activists participates in a demonstration in front of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 31, asking President Barack Obama to modify his deportations policies. Photo: Associated Press/Luis Alonso Lugo

ERICA WERNER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has abandoned a vote on legislation to address the immigration crisis on the border after tea party backers withdrew their support in a dispute over a separate measure on deportations.

Republicans and Democrats have been sparring over President Barack Obama’s request for $3.7 billion to respond to the crisis in which tens of thousands of Central American children have tried to enter the United States illegally.

Speaker John Boehner issued a statement Thursday saying the House would continue to work on solutions to the crisis.

His statement came shortly after the House postponed the vote on the final day before a five-week summer break.

In a last-ditch effort to win support, House GOP leaders had agreed to a separate vote on a companion measure that would have blocked President Barack Obama from extending deportation relief to any more immigrants living here illegally.